Machine for planting and fertilizing potatoes.



No. 805,063. PATENTED NOV. 21, 1905. J. G. HIRSGH.

MACHINE FOR PLANTING AND FERTILIZING POTATOES.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 23, 1904.

3 SHEETS-SHEET l.

PATENTED NOV. 21, 1905.

J. G. HIRSOH. MACHINE FOR PLANTING AND FERTILIZING POTATOES.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 23, 1904.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

No. 805,063. PATENTED NOV. 21, 1905. J. G. HIRSOH.

MACHINE FOR PLANTING AND PERTILIZING POTATOES.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 23, 1904.

3 SHEETSSHEET 3.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 21, 1905.

Application filed May 28, 190i. Serial No. 209,163.

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, J OHN G. HIRSOH, residing in Milwaukee, in thecounty of Milwaukee and State of Wisconsin, have invented new and usefulImprovements in Machines for Planting and Fertilizing Potatoes, of whichthe following is a description, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings, which are a part of this specification.

The object of my invention is to provide a better organized and a morecapable, easilyoperated, and efficient machine for planting andfertilizing potatoes than has heretofore been known.

The invention consists of the improved machine, its parts andcombinations of parts, as herein described and claimed, or theequivalents thereof.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is an elevation at one side of my improvedmachine, parts be,

ing broken away for convenience of illustration. Fig. 2 is a top planview of my improved machine, the drivers seat being omitted and theplow-adjusting rod being shown in crosssection. Fig. 3 is a verticalsection of the machine on line 3 3 of Fig. 1 looking at the frontportion of the machine from the rear. Fig. 4: is a plan of thefurrow-making plow and connections, the tubular potato and fertilizerchute being in section. Fig. 5 is a detail of the endless-chainpotato-feeder and means for adjusting its tension. Fig. 6 is a verticalsection of the hopper for holding fertilizer and means for feeding it insuitable quantities to the chute. Fig. 7 is a detail of means forputting the wheels of the machine into engagement with the axle andreleasing them therefrom, and Fig. 8 is a section of one of the coveringdisks or shovels with sand-excluding hub.

In the drawings, A represents a frame for my improved machine, whichframe is advisably elongated toward the front and rear and is ofrectangular form, being otherwise of any suitable size, proportions, andmaterial to adapt it for mounting it on traction-wheelsand for carryingthe other parts of the machine. The frame is provided with a tongue Bfor attaching a team thereto for hauling the machine along.

The frame A is provided with axle-boxes 2 at each side thereof on theunder sides of the longitudinally-disposed side rails of the frame, inwhich the axle 3 has its bearings and is adapted to rotate. The axle isheld against movement endwise in the axle-boxes by a collar 4 at oneside and the hub 5 of a sprocketwheel on the other side, which collarand hub bear, respectively, at the inner side against the axle-boxes.Stirrups 6 6, one at each side of the frame, are secured theretoconveniently by the axle-box bolts and depend therefrom, projectinglaterally beyond the vertical planes of the side rails of the frame. Thehopperframe is comparatively narrow, and the axle 3 projects laterallybeyond the frame at each side thereof for a little distance, and wheels7 7 are mounted and rotate on the axle at the respective ends thereof.The wheels arenormally in engagement with the axle, so as to rotatetherewith when the machine is drawn ahead, each wheel being clutchedthereto by a catch or pawl 8, pivoted on a collar 9, fixed on the axle,the catch being adapted to engage with the teeth of a spur-toothed wheel10, fixed on the hub of each wheel 7. The catch 8 is held releasably inengagement withthe wheel '10 by a spring 11, formed of wire, one end ofwhich is secured to the collar 9 and the other end of which is securedto the catch 8. When the machine or one end of the axle 3 is movedbackward, the wheel can rotate independently of the axle, the teeth ofthe cogwheel 10 being adapted to slip past the catch 8.

A potato-holding hopper 12 is mounted in upright position on the frame Anear the axle 3 and is of such size as to adapt it to hold aconsiderable supply of potatoes, half-potatoes, or spuds for planting.The hopper preferably is made so Wide as to extend laterally beyond thesides of the frame A; but near the bottom the walls of the hopper areinclined inwardly downwardly at the sides, as well as at the front, andan adjustable gate 13 is fitted and made slidablein the rear Wall of thehopper, extending therefrom inwardly downwardly opposite the frontinclined wall of the hopper in such manner as to close the throat of thehopper to such extent as is desired, thereby preventing the potatoes inthe hopper from lying or bearing directly on the feeder, hereinafterdescribed, except only that limited supply of the potatoes that is beingfed by the inclination of the walls of the hopper onto the feeder. Justbelow and at the rearof the throat of the hopper there is anendless-chain potato-feeder 14, consisting of suitable flat chain-linkshinged together and mounted at one end on the idle roller 15, having itsbearings in the frame A and at the other end on the driven roller 16,mounted in side pieces or blocks 17 17, fixed on the frame.

The chain 14 is provided with aseries of blades 18 at a little distancefrom each other, each of which may consist of an outwardly and laterallyextending strip of metal secured to a link of the chain. Advisably oneblade is secured to each link of the chain. The lateral extremities orprojections of these blades 18 along the upper course of the endlesschain, and through which it moves rearwardly, are made to ride on theedges of ways 19 19, fixed on the side pieces 17 17, and which may becurved slightly upwardly, as best shown in Fig. 1. The side pieces 17 17serve for potato-retaining side walls at each side of and alongside theendless chain or of the spaces between the blades 18 on the chain fromthe throat of the hopper to the point of the discharge of the potatoesfrom the endless-chain feeder. At its lower front end the idle roller15, on which the endless chain 14 is mounted, has its axlebearings inarms 20 20, which arms are supported and made adjustable on the frame bybolts 21 21 through elongated slots therefor in the arms and held in theframe. Portions of the arms 20 in which the axle or journals of the idleroller 15 are mounted project through the side pieces 17 17 in slotstherefor elongated in the general direction of the length of the chainfeeder. By this means the tension of the chain can be regulated. Thedriven roller 16 is provided with a toothed wheel 22, that meshes with atoothed wheel 23, mounted on a studpin 24, fixed on the frame. The hubof the toothed wheel 23 is provided with a sprocketwheel on which thesprocket-chain 25 runs, which chain also runs on a sprocket-wheel rigidwith hub 5, secured rotatively to and with the'axle 3. A belt-tighteningdevice 26, mounted on the frame, may be employed for regulating thetension of the sprocket-chain 25.

Just below the rear end of the chain feeder 14 and adapted to receivethe potatoes dropped therefrom as the chain turns its direction there isa vertically-disposed tubular chute 27, secured rigidly to the frame.About and extending below the lower end of the chute 27 and projectingforwardly therefrom there is a plow or furrow-cutter 28, which ismounted on the frame adjustable vertically by means of arms 29 29,secured rigidly to the rear portion of the plow and extending upwardlyand rearwardly therefrom to the frame A, to which the arms are pivotedby bolts 30 30. The rear portion of this plow loosely incloses thelateral sides and front of the tubular chute 27 near its lower end,being open at the bottom, and converges toward the front into a thinblade-like form adapted to enter and cut the ground, and this frontportion of the plow is provided with a rigid laterallybent andforwardly-projecting arm 31, which at its front end is pivoted to a rod32, conveniently made of strap-iron, which rod extends upwardly looselythrough a clip 33, se-

cured to the frame, and is adjustably overturned at the top, forming ahandle 34, adapted to be grasped by the driver for raising or loweringthe plow. Near its lower end the rod 32 is provided with a recessforming a tooth 35, which is adapted to engage a pin extending throughthe clip 33 into the frame. When the tooth 35 is in engagement with thepin in the clip 33, the plow is held ina raised position, as shown inFig. 1. On releasing the tooth 35 from the clip 33 the plow drops down,so as to enter the ground, the extent to which the plow is permitted togo down being limited by a stop 36 on the rod 32,.which stop engages theclip 33. The stop 36 is made adjustable either up or down in the rod'32,the stop being conveniently a short bolt inserted in the rod through anyone of several holes 37 provided therefor. By this construction the plow28 can be raised so as to be above and free from the ground,substantially in the position shown in Fig. 1, when the machine is to behauled along, not being in use for planting potatoes, or can be letdownwhen to be used in planting potatoes, so as to enter and cut a furrow inthe ground to receive therein the potatoes and fertilizing material.

A little at the rear of the plow 28 there are shovels 38 38, adapted forthrowing earth back into the furrow formed by the plow 28, and

zer that has been dropped in the furrow. These shovels are advisablymade of sheet metal in circular form and dished, each shovel beingprovided with a hub 39, fitted and r0- tatable on an axle 40, which axleextends for some distance on the inner or dished side of the shovel in astraight line and then bends upwardly, forming the axle-tang 41, whichtang passes through a clip 42, fixed on the arm 29- and adjustablevertically therein, the clip being secured to the arm 29 by bolts, bymeans of which the tang is gripped to the arm when adjusted up or downrelative thereto. The outer end of each axle 40 is inserted in an arm43, pivoted at its other extremity to the frame concentrically with thearm 29. A collar 44 on the outer end of the axle 40 and secured theretoby a set-screw holds the parts in position with relation to each other.At its inner end the hub 39 is projected inwardly, forming a sleeve orbox 45, which fits revolubly but closely about a sleeve-bearing 46 onand about the axle 40 and held in place thereon by a set-screw. By thisconstruction a dirt-excluding box and connection is formed on the insideof the disk shovel 38, adapted to prevent dirt or foreign matter carriedup by the rotation of the shovel from getting into the bearing on itsaxle when the dirt or for- I eign matter drops from the disk at or nearits upper edge. The axle 40 is by means of the angle formed between theaxle 40 and its tang 41 and the method of mountingit on the frame sodisposed that the disk shovel 38 is in an ohthereby covering thepotatoes and the fertili- I pieces 17 and is located alongside the routeof the chain potato-feeder 14. At a little distance to the rear of thepotato-feeder and the chute 27 a seat 48 isprovided, which may con sistof a board placed transversely on and secured to the frame A. This seatfurnishes a support for an attendant, who can place his feet in the'stirrups 6 6, whereby he sits on the able distance at the rear of theaxle 3, while a seat 49 for the driver of the team is mounted on astandard 50, fixed on the frame at a distance in front of the axle 3substantially equal to the distance at which the seat 48 is placed atthe rear of the axle. By thus arranging the seat of the driver and ofthe attendant a balance of the frame. is secured on the axle 8. Theattendant seated on the seat 4L8, facing the front, watches the chainfeed er 14:, and if more potatoes or spuds are dropped through the chute27 into any one of the spaces or pockets formed by the blades 18 on thechain feeder than is desired to be dropped at one point in the furrow heremoves the excess potato, potatoes,or spuds from the feeder and placesthem temporarily in the pan 47, and if at any time any one of thepockets or spaces on the feeder between the blades does not receive apotato or spud the attendant takes a potato or spud from the pan 47 andputs it into such unoccupied pocket on the feeder. The arrangement ofthe machine by which the attendant rides with his face toward the frontobviates seasickness or any unpleasant sensations to the attendant whichhe might have by reason of being compelled to ride backward, as is thecase on some machines.

It is frequently desirable to drop fertilizing material into the openfurrow with the potatoes before the furrow is closed and the potatoescovered, and I provide a hopper 51 just at the rear and alongside of thehopper 12 for receiving, holding, and discharging fertilizing material,which hopper is provided atits lower end with a laterally-disposedpassage terminating in a downwardly-extending throat 52, which leads anddischarges laterally into the chute 27. In the lateral passage at thelower end of the hopper 51 I provide a series of buckets 53, mounted incircumferential series on a drum 54:, fixed on a shaft 55, mounted androtatable in the walls of the hopper. The shaft 55 is furnished with asprocket-wheel,

and a sprocket-chain 56 runs on this sprocketwheel and also on asprocket-wheel on the shaft 57 of the roller 16. By this means thebuckets 53 are made to rotate in unison with the movement of the chainfeeder 14. Each of the buckets 53 is provided with a movable box-liketelescoping tubular wall 58, which is adjustable in the bucket 53 towardand beyond its open end circumferentially by means of a bolt 59 passingthrough a slot in the side of the bucket and entering the side wall ofthe box-like bottom. By this adjustable tubular wall in each bucket thebucket can be arranged to scoop up an increased amount of the fertilizerfrom the supply in the hopper 51 and carry it upwardly and over to thethroat 52 and discharge it downwardly therein as the bucket is revolvedon the shaft 55.

The wheels 7 are mounted on the axle 3 so as to be adjustable along onthe axle endwise thereof to adapt them to a narrower or wider track, asdesired; but this is a feature in common use.

What I claim as my invention is 1. In a machine of the characterdescribed, a frame, an upright fertilizer-holding hopper having alaterally-disposed discharging-throat at its lower end, avertically-disposed chute into which the throat is adapted to discharge,a horizontal drum rotatable in the throat, buckets fixed on theperiphery of the drum disposed to dip into the fertilizer material andcarry a portion of it with and over the top of the drum and drop it intothe chute, and boxlike telescoping tubular walls adjustable extensiblywithin the buckets adapted to increase the capacityof the buckets beyondthe normal amount.

2. In a machine of the character described, a frame, an uprightfertilizer-holding hopper having a laterally-disposed discharging-throatat its lower end, a vertically-disposed chute into which the throat isadapted to discharge, a horizontal drum rotatable in the throat, bucketsfixed on the periphery of the drum disposed to dip into the fertilizermaterial and carry a portion of it with and over the top of the drum anddrop it into the chute, a drumshaft, a sprocket-wheel on the drum-shaft,a driving-chain running on the sprocket-wheel and on a related wheelwhereby the drum and its buckets are made to drop fertilizing materialrelatively to seed deposited by the mechanism of said related wheel.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN G. HIRSCH.

Witnesses:

(J. T. BENEDICT, ANNA F. SCHMIDTBAUER.

